There was excitement at the ongoing Peoples Democratic Party South-West Zonal Congress in Osogbo, the Osun State capital as former Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, and the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, declared their preparedness to accept the result of the primary in good faith.
Both Fayose and Makinde had been on the warpath over who becomes the leader of the party in the zone even as their supporters continued to trade words.
The zonal Congress of the party had started amid tension on Monday with political thugs within the party engaging in verbal altercation.
However, on his arrival at the venue of the Congress, party faithful were stunned as Fayose declared the governor of Oyo State as the father and leader of the party in the zone.
Fayose had, while addressing the delegates at the WOCDIF Centre, Osogbo venue of the Congress, said the supporters should not be allowed to drive a wedge in the wheel of progress of the party.
He stressed that he would readily accept the verdict of the election. He said, “Thank you for the endurance and tolerance we have all gone through. The issue of this congress is a circumstantial one, which is still in the public domain. Who is the leader? Governor Seyi Makinde is our leader.
“Therefore, we should not allow, particularly those who are our supporters and lovers, continue to put a wedge in between us. Our leaders; Governors (Olagunsoye) Oyinlola, (Segun) Oni and former Deputy Senate Majority Whip and all serving senators, I want to assure you that we will make exploits together because this must not divide us.
“I stand here to tell you today that either way it goes, I will accept it. Therefore, if Arapaja becomes chairman, I will be the first to visit him in Ibadan because there is nothing that will last forever. Nobody has offended me and if I have offended anybody, I sincerely apologise. “Don’t let them give us the name we do not bear in Yorubaland.
“I want to say again that Governor Seyi Makinde has made impact in Oyo State and he won’t fail. Seyi Makinde and I are one. No matter what, he is our father and may God continue to do wonders through Him.”
Governor Makinde, while addressing delegates at the venue of the congress, said there would be no victor or vanquished in the election.
Stating that the process was a family affair, Makinde expressed his readiness to accept the outcome of congress, saying, “This is an attempt to reposition our party in the South-West. But it has ramifications for our party nationally. So, whatever the outcome is, we will take it in the spirit of a family contest. We don’t want to defeat ourselves but we want to defeat the APC. So, at the end of this exercise, I promise you that there will be no victor and no vanquish.
“As your only Governor in this zone, whoever emerges belongs to me and I will work with the team to reposition our party in the South-West. So, let me thank you ahead for a peaceful and orderly conduct.”
